Ironing machine



April 14, 1936- J. s. VISSCHER IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25,

Patented Apr. .14, 1936- IRONING MACHINE John S. Visscher, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 25, 1934, Serial No. 745,428

19 Claims.

My invention relates to ironing machines of the type in which ironing is effected by the pressure between .a heated shoe and a buck.

The object of my invention is to provide an 5 improved construction and arrangement in ironing machines of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention; attentionis directed to the accompanying specification and the claims appended thereto. 10' In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a sectional end elevation of an ironing machine embodying my invention; Fig..2 is a fragmentary plan view partly broken away of the front end of the carriage; 'Fig. 3 is a sectional .view taken on 15 line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is an exploded view'of part of the mechanism for moving the shoe into final pressing engagement with the buck; Fig. 5 lsan end elevation of the drain pan and the support therefor, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragg mentary view of the pressure mechanism as shown in Fig. 1. v

The ironing machine is carried on a hollow base I. The front end of the upper wall of the base is provided with a depression Zwhich pro- 25 vides a tray for pins and the like. The rear upper wall of the base is turned up at 3 to provide an apron which will prevent the surplus of the material being ironed from falling over the rear edge of the base. The upper side of the base is pro- :0 vided with a rectangular depression 4 in which is placed the lower edge of a hollow member 5 made of rubber or other resilient material for supporting a hollow ,buck 6. The upper edge of themember 5 fits within the depending sides of a rectangular :25 vcup I which is attached to the lower side of the buck at the center. The rectangular shape 01 the member 5 prevents turning of the buck. A bolt 8 having a head fitting within a tapered opening 8a in the lower wall of the buck extends through an 40 opening 9 in the upper wall of the base, secures the buck to the base, and holds the upper and lower ends of the member 5 in firm contact with the rectangular cup 1 and the depression A. The

opening 9 is larger than the bolt and allows some 45 lateral movement of the bolt.' A rubber washer I "I placed between a nut II on the bolt and-the upper side of the base resiliently holds the bolt in position in the openings. with this arrangement the buck is resiliently supported so that it 50 can tilt in all directions in order to maintain an even pressure over the surface of the buck during ironing.

The buck 6 is hollow and is fabricated from a metal shell l2 having sides which flare outwardly 55 and'upwardly from the cup 1 to provide the bottom wall of the buck and are turned up at l2a to provide the edges of the buck. The front and rear sides and edges of the'shell are connected by a spaced transverse vertical ribs l3 having integral ears [3a spot welded to the shell at the edges and 5 the bottom. A wire mesh screen I is placed across the upper edge of the ribs l3 and provides a support for'a pad l5 and a pad cover lie of textile material. The pad is held in place over the upper surface of the buck by cords l6 which 10 are connected to the pad cover and are laced across the under side of the buck. The steam which is generated during ironing passes through the pad and the ,wire'mesh into the interior of the metal shell l2, and when condensed flows along the bottom of the buck beneath the ribs I3 and is led through openings [6a in the bottom wall -of the buck to the interior of the hollow member 5. From there, the condensed moisture is led'through the upper wall of the base by a drain tube 11 to an opening I8a in a pan l8 carriedon the under side of the base. The pen II is tubular and closed on all sides except for the opening la. The pan is supported by lugs l8b secured to the ends of the pan which rest in re- 'cesses in brackets l8c extending from the side wall of the base. A spring clip ltd carried by the side wall of the base presses down on the top or the pan. so that the lugs l8b are held firmly in contact with the brackets I80. The pan may be removed by lifting the rear end of the pan until the lug l8b is clear of the recess in the bracket 18c and sliding the pan to one side until clear of the spring clip WI. The location of the hole in the pan is such that the condensed moisture will not be spilled ifthe machine is tipped when moving from one location to another. By withdrawing the steam generated during ironing, the pad is kept dry and the ironing speed is increased. The wire mesh and the ribs I3 provide a construction which adequately supports the pad l5 and provides a large area for the steam to pass through the pad into the interior of the buck. The rubber member 5-and the rubber washer lo provide seals which prevent the leakage of the condensed moisture over the outside of the base and into the interior of the base.

The carriage for supporting the shoe comprises a channel IQ of U-shaped configuration having a reenforcing web l9a secured'between the flanges. so The lower arm 2.0 of the carriage is pivotally carried. on the base between guides Ila by a pin 2| which fits within an elongated slot 22 formed in each flange of the channel. The slots Hare inclined toward the lower am so ll of the slots 22 when the carriage is pivoted forward from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. A notch 23 is formed in the front end of the lower arm 20. The upper side 23a of the notch 23 projects beyond the lower side 2312 of the notch so that when the carriage is pivoted forward, the lower side 23b swings past a pin 24 in the base and the upper side 23a engages the pin 24, stopping the pivotal movement of the carriage. From this position, the carriage is moved to the position shown in full linesin Fig. 1 by sliding the carriage forward on the pin 2| so that the notch 23 engages the pin 24 and locks the carriage in this position. When the carriage is in this position, it cannot be displaced by forces perpendicular to the face of the buck on the upper arm of the carriage. To move the carriage from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines, the carriage is first pushed rearwardly so that the notch 23 is moved clear of the pin 24 and the pin 2| is at the front of slot 22. The carriage is the pivoted rearward on the pin 2|.

.The buck is mounted so that the upper surface of the buck is inclined upwardly from the front. The inclined surface of the buck makes the adjustment of the clothes over the surface of the buck easier. The travel of the pivoted carriage necessary to move the shoe out of register with the buck is decreased, and the tendency of the shoe to throw heat into the operated surface when in the out-of-register position is also de-' creased.

The inclined buck and its construction and the carriage which has been described above form no part of my invention, but are the invention of G. W. Wardwell and are claimed in application, Serial No. 744,793, filed September 20, 1934.

A shoe 25 which is preferably made of aluminum or other suitable metal is supported on the lower side of the upper arm 25 of the carriage by two pins 21. The lower ends of these pins are threaded into the upper surface of the shoe at points intermediate the ends of the shoe on either side of the center of the shoe. The body of each of the pins passes through a bushing 28 which is secured at the lower end to a cross member 29 connected, between the flanges of the upper arm of the carriage. A coil spring 30, surrounding the bushing and the pin and arranged between the cross member 29 and a washer 3| secured to the upper end of the pin, biases the shoe upwardly against the lower side of the arm 26 of the carriage. The springs 30 permit the shoe to be moved away from the carriage, and the bushings 28 guide the movement of the shoe and permit a limited tilting of the shoe.

The shoe is heated by a heating element 32 which is clamped in a groove formed in the upper surface of the shoe by clamps 33. A switch 32a controls the fiow of current to the heating element. A cover 34 is provided to enclose the upper surface of the shoe.

When the carriage is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the carriage is held against vertical movement by the pins 2| and 24, and the shoe 25 is in register with and in spaced relation to the buck. To move the shoe into pressing engagement with the buck, I have provided a low-pressure mechanism which moves the shoe relative to the carriage into engagement with the buck and a heavy-pressure mechanism that the pin 2| tends to remain at the front end which subsequently moves the shoe into final pressing engagement with the buck.

The low pressure mechanism has a hollow shaft 35 which is pivotally carried on the carriage by a bushing 35 secured to the under side of the web of the upper arm 26 of the carriage.

Pins 31 are'secured at one end to the shaft and the projecting ends of the pins ,31 fit within rounded recesses 38 in a sliding block or support 39. The recesses 38 prevent endwise displacement of the shaft 35. The block 39 slides in a guide 40 secured between the flanges of the upper arm of the carriage, and an ear 40a on the upper edge of thexguide 40 limits the upward movement of the block: operating lever 4| is connected to the projectingend of the shaft 35 for rotating the shaft. Rotation of the lever 4| in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, causes-the pins 31 to force the block 39 downwardly against a plate 51 secured to the upper surface of the shoe to force the shoe away from the carriage and into engagement with the buck. The leverage exerted by the lever 4| is such that only a low pressure is required to move the shoe against the action of springs 30 so that the shoe is moved quickly and easily into contact with the buck. A stop 39a secured to the upper end of the block 39 engages the upper arm of the carriage and limits the movement of the block. The position to which the shoe and block 39 are moved by the lever 4| depends on the thickness of the material placed on the buck,- so that the low pressure mechanism adjusts for variation in thickness of the material being ironed. When the lever 4| is released, the springs 30 return the shoe, the block, and the operating lever 4| to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

The shoe is moved into final pressing engagement with the buck by a heavy-pressure mechanism which has a shaft 42 journalled in bushings 43 in the block 39. A cam. 44 secured to the shaft 42 by a pin 46 fits within a recess 45 formed in the block 39 between the bushings 43. The bushings are lubricated by wic 43a. A slot 45a is formed in the bottom and rear side wall of the block through which the cam projects. The edges of the slot 45a prevent longitudinal displacement of the cam and the shaft 42. The working surface of the cam is provided with a roll 41 which is journalled between fianges 45 of the cam. The roll 41 engages the plate 51 secured to the upper surface of the shoe. When the block 39 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, it is free to slide up and down in the guide 49 relative to the upper arm of the carriage. In order to lock the block 39 to the upper arm of the carriage so that the cam 44 may exert a pressure tending to move the shoe away from the carriage, I have provided a U-shaped pawl 49 which is carried within the recess 45 in the block 39. The front and rear sides of the pawl are on each side of the shaft 42 and pivots thereon, and the bottom of the pawl rests on ledges 45b at the bottom of the block 39. A slot 49a is formed in the bottom of the pawl within which the cam 44 may rotate without disturbing the pawl. The pawl has a pointed upper front edge of the pawl toward the notches II in plate 52.

A shoulder 54 formed on the cam enga es the rear edge 55 of the pawl when the parts in the position shown in Fig. land holda th" pawl out of engagement with the notches against the force of spring 53. The force exerted by the springs 30 tend to maintain the cam 44 in the position to hold the pa wtout of engagement with ari pperating lever 56 is conthe notches 5|. nected to the pi c'ijecting end of the shaft 42 for rotating The operating levers 4| and 56 are, ranged on opposite sides of the upper arm bf the carriage so that both'levers cannot be operated with one hand. This increases the safety of the machine. A cover 58 secured to the upper. arm of the carriage encloses the pressure-developing mechanism.

When the lever is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the initial movement of the handle moves the shoulder 54 on the cam away from the rear edge 55 of the pawl and allows the spring 53 to move the edge 5|! of the pawl into engagement with the notches in the plate 52. The-,iriction of the shaft 42 on the pawl assists spring 53 in moving the pawl into engagement with the notches. This locks the block 39 in the position to which it has been moved by the lever 4|. Continued rotation of the lever 56 in a counterclockwise direction causes the'roller 41 of the cam 44 to move the shoe relative to the carriage into final pressing engagment with the buck. The roller 41 is moved past the center line of the shaft 42 so that the cam 'will remain in this position. The rear edge 44a of the cam engages the block 39 above the slot 45a and limits the rotationof the cam. Since the low pressure mechanism moves the shoe into contact with the buck'and moves the block 39- to a corresponding position, the camof the heavy-pressure mechanism needs only a small throw, so that the force of reaction of the lever 59 when released by the operator is small. The block 39 is locked to the carriage by the pawl 49 untilthe operating lever 56 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, at which position the shoulder 54 engages the rear edge of the pawl and moves the front edge of the pawl out of engagement with the notches in the plate 52.

In the operation or, the ironing machine, as-"'' sume that the carriage is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this position the shoe is out of register with the buck so that the operator may arrange the material to be ironed on the upper surface'of the buck. To iron the material placed on the buck, the operator pivots the carriage about pin 2| by pulling on lever 4| and as the carriage approaches the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the lower edge 29!) of the lower arm of the carriage swings past pin 24 and the upper edge 23a of the lower arm engages the pin 24, thus stopping further tuming movement of the carriage. The operator then pulls on lever 4| to slide the carriage forward to bring the notch 23 over the pin 24, the elongated slots 22 permitting the carriage to be pulled for-.'''

wardly on the pin 2|. This locks the carriage in the position shown in Fig. l. The operator now rotates the lever 4| in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to cause the pi: is 31 to force the block 39 downwardly against tl e plate 51 on the upper surface of the shoe and move the shoe into contact with the material placed on the buck. The movement of the shoe and the block depends on the thickness of the material on the buck. To complete the ironing Fig. 1, while stillholding lever 4| in the lowered position. The initial movement of the lever 55 moves the shoulder 54 on the camaway from the rear edge 55 of the pawl and permits the spring 53 to move the front edge 59 of the pawl into engagement with the notches 5|-in the plate 52.

This locks the block 39 to the carriage in the position to which it was moved by the lever 4|. Continued rotation of the lever 55 causes the roller 41 of the-cam to iorce the shoe into flnal operation, the operator rotates the lever 55v in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in pressing engagement with thebuck. In this posito the released position and then lets lever 4| return slowly under the action of the springs 30. This prevents sudden returns of the shoe and the lever 4|. Touncover'the surface or the buck so that the ironed material may be removed, the operator pushes on the lever 4|. The initial effect of pushing on the lever 4| is to slide the carriage rearwardly so that the notch 23 is clear of the pin 24 and the pin 2| is in the front part of the slots 22. Continued rearward pressure on the lever .4| causes the carriage to pivot about the pin 2| and to return to the position shown-in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a. shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register in spaced relation, low-pressure means for initially moving said shoe away from said carriage and toward said buck, and subsequently moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck.

2. An ironingpress comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relative- 1y moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, low-pressure 'means for initially moving said shoe away from said carriage and toward said buck, and heavy-pressure means moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage intoflnal pressing engagement with said buck.

3. An ironing press comprising a buck,'a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck andshoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, low-pressure means for initially moving said shoe away from said carriage and toward'said buck, heavy-pressure means moved with said shoe duringthe initial moveheavy-pressure means for from said carriage.

to which it is moved during the initial movement of said shoe.

4. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relativeto said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, low-pressure means for initially moving said shoe away from said carriage and toward said buck, heavy-pressure means moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck, and means actuated by the initial movement of said heavy-pressure means for locking said heavy-pressure means to said carriage.

5. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, low-pressure means for initially moving said shoe away from said carriage and toward said buck, heavy-pressure means moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck, means for locking said heavypressure means to said carriage in the position to which it is moved during the initial movement of said shoe, and means actuated by movement of said heavy-pressure means in the direction to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe for releasing 6. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for biasing tively moving said buck and shoeto a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, means for initially moving, said shoe toward said buck in opposition to said biasing force, and means moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck.

7. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage. a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for biasing said shoe toward said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a. position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, means for initially moving said shoe toward said buck in opposition to said biasing force, a member moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe, means including a cam between said member and said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck, and means for locking said member to said carriage in the position to which it is moved during the initial movement of 'said shoe.

8. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for biasing said shoe toward said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in-register and in spaced relation,- means for initially moving said shoe toward said buck in opposition to said biasing force, a member moved with said shoe said heavy pressure means carriage, means for rela-.

during the initial movement of said shoe, means including a cam between said member and said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said.

'and in spaced relation, means for initially moving said shoe toward said buck in opposition to said biasing force, a member moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe, means including a cam between said member and said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck, means actuated upon initial movement of said cam in the direction to move said shoe toward said buck for locking said member to said carriage, and means actuated upon movement of said cam in the direction to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe for releasing said member from said carriage.

10. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, means for initially moving said shoe toward said buck, a member moved with said shoe during the initial movement of said shoe, means including a cam between said member and said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said car- .riage into final pressing engagement with said buck, and a pawl carried by said member and moved into engagement with notches in said carriage upon initial movement of said cam in the direction to move said shoe toward said buck for locking said member to said carriage.

11. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable relative to said carriage, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe to a position in which said buck and shoe are in register and in spaced relation, means for initially moving said shoe toward said buck, a member moved with said shoe during the initial movement ofsaid shoe, means including a cam between said member and said shoe for moving said shoe relative to said carriage into final pressing engagement with said buck, and a pawl carried by said member and moved into engagement with notches in said earriage upon initial movement of said cam in the direction to move said shoe toward said buck for locking said member to said carriage, said pawl being moved out of engagement with said notches upon final movement of said cam in the direction to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe.

12. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a shoe carried by the carriage and movable relative thereto, a member movable relative to -mechanismzbetween said member and said shoe for moving said shoe into I pressing engagement with said buck.

13. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, a. shoe carried by the carriage and movable relative thereto, means for initially moving said shoe relative to said carriage into contact with buck, a member movable relative to the carriage to a position corresponding to the position of the shoe at the end of the initial movement, means including a cam journaled in said member for moving said shoe into pressingengagement with said buck. and means operated upon the initial movement of said cam in the direction to move said shoe into pressing engagement with the buck for locking said member to said carriage.

15. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage, ashoe carried by the carriage and movable relative thereto, means for initially moving the shoe into contact with the buck, a member movable relative to the carriage and having a recess therein, said' member being movable to a posit-ion corresponding to the position of the shoe at the .end of the initial movement, means including a.

shaft journaled in said member and having a cam in said recess for moving said shoe into pressing engagement with said buck, and a U-shaped pawl carried in said recess and extending on each side of said shaft, said pawl being moved into engagement with notches in said carriage for locking said member to said carriage upon initial movement of said cam in the direction to move said shoe into pressing engagement with said buck.

16. In an ironing press, a support, a hollow buck having a perforated upper surface and an enclosed lower wall, an opening in said lower wall for draining moisture condensed in said buck, and means including a hollow member of rubber arranged between said buck and said support below said opening for resiliently supporting said buck and for draining the condensed moisture.

1'7. In an ironing press, a. support, a hollow' buck having a perforated upper surface and an enclosed lower wall, an opening in said lower wall for draining moisture condensed in said buck, and

means including a hollow rectangular member of rubber arranged between said buck and said support below said opening for resiliently supporting said buck and for draining the condensed moisture.

18. In an ironing press, a support, a hollow, buck carried by said support, said'buck' having a perforated upper surface and an enclosed lower wall, a drain for draining moisture condensed in said buck, and an enclosed pan carried by said support having an opening beneath said drain, said opening being located so that condensed moisture in the pan is not spilled when the press is tipped.

19. In an ironing press, a support, a hollow buck carried by said support, said buck having a perforated upper surface and an enclosed lower wall, a drain for draining moisture condensed in 'said buck, an enclosed pan carried by said support having an opening beneath said drain, said opening being located so that condensed moisture in the pan is not spilled when the press is tipped, and means including a spring clip for removably supporting said pan on said support.

JOHN S. VISSCHER; 

